Introduction to Nahum

A.Inevitability of judgment (3:1-4)

B.National annihilation (3:5-18)

V.Postlude (3:19)

At a time the Assyrian Empire is in decline, God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. This was likely during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah (792-740) and Jeroboam II of Israel (793-753).

During its time of weakness, Assyria experiences two severe plagues (765 and 759) and a total eclipse (763).

Nineveh repents in response to Jonah’s preaching and is spared God’s judgment.

Assyria’s Shalmaneser V besieges Samaria. 725-722

Samaria falls to Assyria’s Sargon II; nearly 28,000 Israelites are sent into exile. 722

Sennacherib establishes Nineveh as the capital of the Assyrian Empire. 705-681

Sennacherib captures and devastates Judah, besieging but not capturing Jerusalem. 701

When Babylon rebels against Sennacherib, he destroys the city. 689

Sennacherib is murdered by his two sons, one of whom, Esar-haddon (681-669), succeeds him as king. 681

Esar-haddon immediately begins the rebuilding of Babylon, an act that wins the allegiance of the local populace.

Nahum (675-612) prophesies that just as Assyria destroyed Thebes, Nineveh (Assyria’s capital) will be destroyed.

Esar-haddon invades Egypt. 671

Egypt rebels (669) and Esar-haddon’s son, Ashurbanipal (668-627), sets out to reconquer Egypt. 667

Egypt rebels again, so Ashurbanipal destroys Thebes. 665

Calah is destroyed and the combined armies of the Babylonians and the Medes lay siege to Nineveh. After two months, the city falls. 612

An Assyrian general claims the throne and rallies what is left of the Assyrian army in Haran. An alliance with Egypt brings a few troops to Assyria’s aid, but as the Babylonians approach, Haran is abandoned. 610

The last remnants of the battered Assyrian Empire, along with their recent Egyptian allies, are defeated at the Battle of Carchemish, bringing the Assyrian Empire to an end. 605